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EDERAL  COUNCIL  OF  THE  CHURCHES 
OF  CHRIST  IN  AMERICA 

UBL1CITY  SERVICE 


JASPER  T.  MOSES.  Director 
105  East  22nd  Street,  New  York.  N.  Y, 


For  Release 
Sept. 26-1919- 


CHURCH  COUNCIL  CALLS  FOR  JUSTICE  TO  THE  NEGRO 
THE  PROBLEM  NO  LONGER  SECTIONAL 
COOPERATION  AND  RACIAL  UNDERSTANDING  NECESSARY 


A call  to  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  to  act  in  conformity  with 
the  high  ideals  of  democracy  and  of  Christianity  in  the  present  condition  of 
strained  relations  between  the  races  has  just  been  issued  by  the  Federal 
Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America,  acting  in  conjunction  with  a 
large  representative  committee  of  white  and  colored  citizens  from  all  sec- 
tions of  the  country.  This  committee  met  recently  in  New  York  City  on  the 
call  of  the  secretary  of  the  Home  Missions  Council  and  the  chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  the  Federal  Council  on  Negro  Churches.  Much  time  was  given  to 
a full  and  free  discussion  of  the  racial  situation.  As  a result  this  address 
was  issued  which  represents  the  thought  of  these  leaders  and  the  delibera- 
tive judgment  of  the  Administrative  Committee  of  the  Federal  Council  of  the 


Churches  of  Christ  in  America 


. 


A STATEMENT  AND  RECOMMEWDATIONS 


ON  THE  PRESENT  RACIAL  CRISIS. 

The  recent  race  conflicts  in  some  of  cur  cities  challenge  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Churches  of  Jesus  Christ  to  tneir  responsibility  respecting  an 
amicable  and  fair  adjustment  of  race  relations  in  America. 

In  the  fellowship  of  the  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in 
America  are  included  3,989,852  members  of  the  Negro  churches.  In  speaking 
therefore  at  this  time  for  humanity  and  justice  we  voice  the  mind  and  con- 
science of  both  races.  The  present  situation  is  a challenge  to  the  Churches 
charged  with  the  promotion  of  the  brotherhood  of  man,  which  look  upon  all 
men  as  entitled  to  a footing  of  equality  of  opportunity.  This  calls  for 
preaching  the  duty  of  economic  and  community  justice  for  the  Negro,  thus 
securing  peace  and  goodwill  between  the  races.  Beyond  all  else  the  present 
situation  calls  for  confession  on  the  part  of  Christian  men  and  women  of 
failure  to  live  up  to  the  standard  of  universal  brotherhood  as  taught  by 
Jesus  Christ. 

In  the  adjustment  of  race  relations  our  country  has  in  this  crisis 
not  only  its  own  conscience  to  satisfy,  but  also  to  justify  itself  as  a nation 
before  the  enlightened  opinion  of  mankind.  As  a foremost  exponent  of  the 
ideals  of  democratic  government,  the  United  States  has  been  lifted  to  the 
full  view  of  the  world.  Our  present  settlement  therefore  of  race  relations 
will  influence  in  a very  large  measure  the  settlement  of  race  relations  in 
other  parts  of  the  world. 

We  must  face  frankly  the  fact  that  a most  dangerous  inter-racial 
situation  now  threatens  our  country.  The  problems  growing  out  of  the  pres- 
ence of  two  races  in  America  are  clearly  seen  to  be  nation-wide  and  the 


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in  2016 


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adjustments  must  necessarily  be  made  on  the  basis  of  national  responsibility. 
The  migration  of  thousands  of  Negroes  to  the  North  emphasizes  this  fact.  The 
outbreaks  in  several  cities  and  the  persistence  of  the  anarchy  and  treason 
of  lynch-law  imperil  our  democracy. 

The  actual  practice  of  the  principles  of  the  brotherhood  of  Christ 
can  prevent  such  conflicts  and  nothing  else  will.  The  Church  must  offer  the 
ideals,  the  program  and  the  leadership  in  this  crisis.  The  Church  must  meet 
its  obligation,  or  leadership  will  pass  not  only  to  secular  agencies,  eco- 
nomic or  socialistic,  but  to  forces  that  are  destructive  of  civilization. 

We  must  confess  that  the  Church  and  its  ministry  as  related  to  the 
welfare  of  the  Negro  has  been  too  little  inspired  by  the  fundamental  princi- 
ples and  ideals  of  Jesus  Christ.  Communities  that  have  expressed  horror  over 
atrocities  abroad,  have  seen,  almost  unmoved  and  silent,  men  beaten,  hanged 
and  also  burned  by  the  mob. 

The  Negro  has  ever  shown  profound  faith  in  God  and  has  always  looked 
to  the  Church  for  leadership,  for  counsel  and  for  guidance.  The  Church  which 
for  fifty  years  has  a record  of  almost  unmatched  service  in  the  education 
and  betterment  of  the  race  will  now  be  recreant  to  her  trust  and  lose  her 
birth-right  of  service  if  she  does  not  meet  this  confidence  with  a full  sense 
of  responsibility  and  a full  measure  of  service  for  justice,  peace  and  good- 
will. To  this  end  we  therefore  urge  upon  the  Church,  her  ministry  and  mem- 
bership this  constructive  program: 

A CONSTRUCTIVE  PROGRAM  FOR  JUST  INTER-RACIAL  RELATIONS 

1.  The  Government,  local,  state  and  national,  should  impartially 
guarantee  to  all  classes  security  of  life  and  of  property.  Mob  violence  is 
becoming  a crowd  habit.  When  life  and  property  are  ruthlessly  taken,  when 
men  and  women  are  lynched  with  no  protection  from  officers  or  courts,  law  and 


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order  are  trampled  under  foot.  We  call  upon  the  pulpit,  the  press  and  all 
good  people  to  create  a public  sentiment  that  will  support  necessary  legisla- 
tion fcr  the  enforcement  of  existing  laws,  that  life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit 
of  happiness  may  be  equally  assured  to  all  classes. 

2.  The  Negro  should  have  economic  justice,  equal  opportunity  to  get 
and  hold  work  on  the  same  terms  as  other  men,  with  equal  pay  for  equal  work, 
and  with  fair  working  and  living  conditions.  The  entrance  of  large  numbers 
of  Negroes  into  the  various  industries  emphasizes  the  necessity  of  an  immedi- 
ate amicable  adjustment  of  relations  with  white  employers  and  fellow-workers. 

3.  We  call  upon  men  and  women  everywhere  to  protect  the  sanctity 
of  home  and  womanhood.  We  record  with  satisfaction  the  growing  enlistment 

of  Negro  leaders  in  a program  of  education  and  Christianization  such  as  tends 
to  prevent  crimes  that  provoke  mob  violence.  The  home  of  the  Nearro  should 
receive  the  same  measure  of  respect  and  protection  as  that  of  other  Americans, 
and  the  sanctity  of  his  home  relations  should  be  safeguarded  in  every  possi- 
ble way.  Swift  and  impartial  action  of  the  law  should  strike  the  violator 
of  the  sanctity  of  any  home,  white  or  black. 

4.  We  recognize  as  fundamental  to  the  welfare  and  efficiency  of 
society  that  adequate  recreational  provisions  be  made  available  for  Negro 
citizens . 

o.  We  strongly  endorse  the  plea  of  the  Negro  for  equal  traveling 
accommodations  for  equal  charges. 

6.  Adequate  educational  facilities  for  Negro  children  and  youth 
should  be  provided  not  only  as  a national  obligation  but  also  as  a necessity 
for  national  welfare.  We  emphasize  the  urgency  of  giving  to  the  Negro  his 
full  share  of  local  and  national  funds. 


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7.  Qualifications  for  franchise  should  be  administered  irrespective 

of  race,  creed  or  color. 

8.  Closer  cooperation  between  the  races  should  be  promoted  by  organ- 
izing local  committees  of  white  and  colored  people  in  towns  and  communities 
for  the  consideration  of  inter-racial  welfare,  All  possible  agencies  should 
be  enlisted  in  fostering  a spirit  of  justice  and  of  goodwill  in  the  relations 
of  one  race  to  the  other.  We  recommend  that  the  governor  of  each  state  ap- 
point a standing  committee  for  the  careful  study  of  the  causes  underlying 
race  friction  with  a view  to  their  removal  and  that  Congress  be  requested 
through  a non-partisan  committee  to  investigate  the  disturbed  and  threatening 
inter-racial  situation  throughout  the  nation. 

Racial  understanding  and  cooperation  furnish  the  only  sure  basis  of 
race  adjustment  in  a democracy.  The  root  of  the  matter  is  the  failure  to 
recognize  the  Negro  as  a man.  The  basis  of  distress  on  both  sides  is  fear, 
and  "fear  hath  torment".  Respect  for  Negro  manhood  and  womanhood  is  the  only 
basi3  for  amicable  race  adjustment,  for  race  integrity  and  for  permanent 
racial  peace.  If  we  talk  democracy,  let  U3  act  democracy.  If  we  propose  a 
democratic  program  for  the  protection  and  self-determination  of  the  weak  and 
oppressed  people  of  Europe  as  a means  of  permanent  peace  and  goodwill  abroad, 
let  us  9-pply  the  same  program  at  home. 

Frank  Mason  North,  President  of  the 
Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America 

Albert  G.  Lawson,  Chairman,  Administrative  Committee 

. Wilbur  P.  Thirkield,  Chairman  of  the 

Committee  on  Negro  Churches 


Charles  S.  Macfarland,  General  Secretary 


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